Arm rest for desk and bench workers



1967 R. w. DOLLGENER ETAL 3,300,250

ARM REST FOR DESK AND BENCH WORKERS Filed Oct. 25, 1965 INVENTORS Roberr W. Dollgener Clifford 0. Henry Tince Abbot? f BY ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice 3,300,250 Patented Jan. 24, 1967 ARM REST FOR DESK AND BENCH WORKERS Robert W. Dollgener, 3000 Commerce St., Dallas, Tex.

75226; Clilford 0. Henry, 516 Riggs Circle, Mesquite,

Tex. 75149; and Tince Abbott, 1722 Houghton, Dallas, Tex. 75217 Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 502,819 3 Claims. (Cl. 297411) This invention relates to arm rests for bench and desk workers, and it has particular reference to a device designed for providing a comfortable support for the forearms for individuals whose occupations require a constant use of hands along work tables, benches, desks, and the like, as in bench assembly operations, and other similar activities.

The number of workers engaged in assembly operations at benches and tables in all types of industry has steadily increased during the past few years, and with the necessity for accelerated production of such devices as electronic equipment and a variety of household appliances, it has become necessary to provide for the comfort of workers and craftsmen whose occupations require that they spend hours at assembly benches using their hands so that it is necessary to support their forearms along the edges of the benches and tables to which they are assigned to perform their work.

An object of the invention, therefore, is that of providing a cushioned support adapted to be applied to the adjacent edge of a bench, table, desk, or other work surface whereby the worker may rest his forearms while performing operations thereon.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of an arm supporting device which may be designed to be conformably adapted to be applied to the adjacent edge of any supporting surface to afford a cushioned arm rest which lends itself to the alleviation of fatigue and possibly uncomfortable abrasions.

Broadly, the invention contemplates the provision of a device which may be economically produced in a variety of lengths and readily attachable to the forward edge of a bench or table with a minimum of effort, and having means thereon for securing the device against displacement while enabling the same to be readily removed and reattached.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become apparent as the description proceeds when considered in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective illustration of a table or bench showing the invention applied to one edge thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective illustration of the invention showing the longitudinal integral extruded supporting elements internally thereof and the padded outer portion.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the invention on line 33 of FIGURE 1, showing its conformability and securement to the edge of a bench or table, shown in fragmentary section.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the invention, on line 44 of FIGURE 3, illustrating the extruded base and one of the cap members securing the plastic outer cover for the cushion material, and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a plurality of church pews showing the invention utilized as a cushion for a kneeling support for worshipers.

The invention, in its preferred form, comprises a base member which may be formed of aluminum, or other suitable metal, or of plastic material, as desired, and may be extruded in any desired length for stock purposes and cut into unitary lengths best suited to any specified purpose.

As depicted in FIGURES 2 and 3, the extruded base 10 has a main body portion 11 which is arcuate in transverse section and is normally positioned in a horizontal plane, and an integral curved portion or apron 12 which depends therefrom and overhangs the vertical edge 13 of a bench or table 14 to which the invention is applied, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3.

Along and beneath one edge 15 of the body portion 11, opposite the apron 12, is (formed a seating member 16 whose under surface 17 is planar and has a flange 18 extending inwardly of the substantially arcuate chamber 19 defined longitudinally of the body portion 11. Intermediate the lateral extremities of the seating member 16 is a longitudinal groove 20 whose function will become apparent.

A second seating element 21, having right angularly dis-posed flanges 22 and 23, is formed opposite the member 16, the flange 23 having a planar undersurface 24 which is aligned with that of the member 16, the engaging surface 25 of the flange 22 being perpendicular to that of the surface 24, as shown in FIGURE 3, so that the seating element 21 will conformably engage the front or adjacent edge of a table or bench 14 to which the invention is applied.

The depending edge of the rolled or curved apron 12, which extends from the flanged seating element 21, has a bead 26 formed internally thereof, its inner face 27 having a longitudinal groove 28 therein, the purpose of which will be presently shown.

A cushion 29 of foam rubber, or other suitable material, is arranged over the arcuate surface of the base member 10, tapering toward the opposing edges thereof, and a cover 30 is applied thereto which is of a pliable material, such as sheet plastic, whose opposing longitudinal edges 31 are pressed into the grooves 20 and 28 and secured by extruded plastic strips 32 which are preferably round in transverse section, as shown best in FIGURE 3.

The base 10 preferably extends beyond the ends of the cushion 29, as shown in FIGURE 4, while the plastic cover 30 extends beyond the latter and is secured by a cap 33 which conforms to the arcuate shape of the base 10 and has a depending angular flange 34 covering the end of the base 10 and conform-ably engaging the top and adjacent edge of the bench 14, as shown in FIGURE 2, whereby to provide an attractive finish for the device. The cap 33 may be of any desired material, and of necessity must be shaped for rightor left-hand application.

The engaging surfaces 17, 24 and 25 are covered with an adhesive material 34 by which the invention can be firmly secured to the exposed surfaces of the table or bench 14, as exemplified in FIGURE 3, or when applied to a stool 35, such as shown in FIGURE 5, and utilized as a kneeling support in religious worship. The stool 35 is shown in section with a plurality of pews 36 shown fragmentarily in section.

Although the invention has been illustrated and described in substantial detail, it is not intended that it be limited beyond that which may be considered as falling within the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an arm rest [for bench and desk workers, an elongated base member attached to the edge of a work surface adjacent to the operator and curved transversely to extend over a portion of said work surface and depend along the adjacent edge thereof, a first seating element formed along the lower forward edge of said base member and engaging said work surface, a second seating memher formed rearwardly of said first seating member and having right-angular engaging surfaces for engagement with the said work surface and the adjacent edge thereof, a cushion arranged over the contoured surface of said base, a cover coextensive with said cushion, and means at each end of said base for retaining said cover thereon,

2. In an arm rest for workers, in combination with a Work surface having a third dimension, an extruded elongated transversely curved base member attached to said work surface adjacent to the Worker and depending over the edge of said surface, a first seating element formed with said base member along and beneath the forward edge thereof and engageable with said work surface, a second seating element formed beneath said base member rearwardly of said first seating element and having rightangular planar surfaces engageable with said work surface and the vertical edge thereof, a cushion arranged over said base member, a cover for said cushion, and means detachably secured to each end of said base member for retaining said cover thereon.

3. In an arm rest for bench or desk workers, in combination with a three-dimensional work surface, an extruded elongated base member having a transverse arcuate contour and attached to said work surface and depend along the edge thereof adjacent to the worker, a plurality of seats formed longitudinally of said base engageable with said work surface and having an adhesive thereon for securing the said base to said work surface, one of said seats having right-angular engaging surfaces whereby to engage the top of said work surface and the adjacent edge thereof, a cushion on said base, and means on each end of said base for securing said cushion thereto.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 561,562 6/1896 Brownson et a l. 248-118 2,255,554 9/1941 Gordon 297411 2,417,961 3/1947 Wiley 248345.1

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Examiner. 

1. IN AN ARM REST FOR BENCH AND DESK WORKERS, AN ELONGATED BASE MEMBER ATTACHED TO THE EDGE OF A WORK SURFACE ADJACENT TO THE OPERATOR AND CURVED TRANSVERSELY TO EXTEND OVER A PORTION OF SAID WORK SURFACE AND DEPEND ALONG THE ADJACENT EDGE THEREOF, A FIRST SEATING ELEMENT FORMED ALONG THE LOWER FORWARD EDGE OF SAID BASE MEMBER AND ENGAGING SAID WORK SURFACE, A SECOND SEATING MEMBER FORMED REARWARDLY OF SAID FIRST SEATING MEMBER AND HAVING RIGHT-ANGULAR ENGAGING SURFACES FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SAID WORK SURFACE AND THE ADJACENT EDGE THEREOF, A CUSHION ARRANGED OVER THE CONTOURED SURFACE OF SAID BASE, A COVER COEXTENSIVE WITH SAID CUSHION, AND MEANS AT EACH END OF SAID BASE FOR RETAINING SAID COVER THEREON. 